Box making machine



Jan. 13, 1942. HERVRINGTQN 2,269,766

BOX MAKI NG MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet l MEL INVENTOR flerf Z. f/ern'ngzon wwu ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1942. B.L. HERRINGTON 9, 6

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2,

. INVENTOR fierf Z. Herring/"on v ATTORNEY 1942- B. HERRINGTON. 2,269,766

' BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1941 '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE ZE 7] v ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1942 BOX MAKING MAC Bert L. Herrington, Klamath- Falls, 0reg., assignor to Klamath Lumber and Box Company, Klamath Falls, Greg, a corporation of Delaware Application January 28, 1941, Serial No. 376,287

12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to box making machines and is concerned more particularly with the provision of an improved feed mechanism for assembling the parts of a box lid into the correct position for feeding tov a stitching machine.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved feed mechanism for assembling and feeding box lid parts to a stitching machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved positive feed mechanism for removing the lowermost one of a stack of articles such as pieces of shook into a desired position for subsequent operations thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feed mechanism of the character referred to which is of a simple construction and is positive and reliable in operation.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a feed mechanism incorporating the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view of the feed mechanism taken in a plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View of the feed mechanism taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view ofthe feeding carriage and associated parts.

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 55 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view illustrating the parts as positioned at the beginning of a feeding cycle. a

Figure 7 is the position of the parts as located at the end of the feeding cycle.

The invention is disclosed as embodied in a feed mechanism designed to assemble a box lid consisting of two end bars and a piece of shook which is stitched to such bars to form the lid of a box. Generally, the apparatus includes a frame I0 providing similar opposite tracks II on which the upper stretch of a conveyor I2 travels as it moves toward a stitching machine (not shown) of suitable character. Associated with the tracks I I are respective hoppers I3 of suitable construction to receive a stack of end bars I4 for box lids. The bars I4 are removed in a manner later described and carried along in spaced relation by the conveyor l2. Also associated with the conveyor is a shook hopper I 5 adapted to re-' ceive a stack of shock I6 for deposition one by one upon an aligned pair of end bars It as they are carried along by the respective parallel runs of the conveyor. Associated with the hopper I5 is a feeding mechanism indicated generally at H which is in the form of a vertically reciprocable carriage having endwise slidable feed fingers.

The fingers are projected to engage over the lowermost piece of shook after it has been bowed downwardly or separated from the stack of shock by a bowing device I8 to carry such separated piece of shook downwardly in a positive fashion for engagement with the conveyor.

With the above general arrangement of the parts in mind, the mechanism will now be described in detail.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the frame I0 may include a plurality of standards 2| which may be connected by suitable cross pieces 22 and 23. The upper cross piece 22 carries brackets 24 which serve to support the channel-shaped tracks II for the opposite runs of the conveyor I2 aswell as angle-shaped tracks 26 along which the bars Id of the box lid are progressed. It will be understood that a suitable number of standards 2i, cross pieces 22, and brackets 24 may be provided along the frame to support the tracks II and 26 in a sturdy fashion.

The conveyor I2 may be conveniently provided in the form of an articulated chain which at equally spaced intervals carries a series of conveying fingers 21. Each finger 21 extends upwardly from the track I I and across and onto the track 26. The height of the fingers 2'! are such that they will engage both the end bars I4 and the. pieces of shock which are deposited thereon to form the assembled box lids. It will be understood that the two chains of the conveyor I2 extend through the stitching machine and are trained about suitable driving and idler sprockets in a conventional manner. ,The drive of the conveyor I2 is in timed relation to the operation of the stitching mechanism.

It will be understood that the brackets 24 are adjustably mounted on the cross piece 22 in any convenient manner to enable variation in the width of the conveyor to accommodate diiferent sizes of box lids in accordance with the usual type of adjustment provided for such purpose.

The hoppers I3 for the end bars M are of conventional construction and are adapted to hold a stack of end bars I4 in parallel relation with the direction of travel of the conveyor. As each finger 21 travels beneath the associated hopper I3, it engages and removes the lowestbar' I4 of the stack in the usual manner. In this way, each pair of parallel fingers 2'I carry respective end bars III beneath the hopper I5.

The hopper I5 (Figures 1-3) for the stack of shook is preferably formed of four upright corner pieces or angles 3i which are connected by suitable braces 32 across their length, and by end pieces 33. Cross straps 34 may be provided between the upper braces 32. The hopper I 5 is also provided with suitabl vertically adjustable stack-retaining end' plates 36 which are provided with verticalslots 31 engaged by guide pins 38 carried by the adjacent cross strap 34 and end piece 33 respectively, so that the end plates 36 can be adjusted as to their vertical position. The end plates 36 are provided with inturned lips 39 at their lower ends to support the stack of shooks I6. The length of lips 39 is such that a piece of shook can be bowed sufiiciently for withdrawal without injury.

Associated with the shook hopper I is a feed mechanism including a vertically reciprocable carriage having an endwise reciprocable slide thereon. The slide carries feed fingers for engaging and withdrawing the lowermost piece of shook after it has been conditioned by a bowing device which will now be described.

Referring to Figures 4 and 6, the bowing device comprises a bowing arm 46 which is pivotally connected at 41 to an operating lever 48. Lever 48 is pivoted at 49 on a bracket 5| carried by one of the cross braces 32. 36 is spring-urged upwardly by spring 52 so that it is always spring-urged toward the bottom of the stack of shooks I6. At its outer end, the bowing arm 46 is provided with a plurality of fingers or tines 53, each having a curved end 54 for guiding engagement with a piece of shook and a shoulder or tooth 55 for engagement with the edge of a piece of shook as seen most clearly in Figure 6. The bowing device is operated by the feed carriage in a manner later described to engage the edge of a piece of shook and bow its middle portion downwardly to allow engagement therewith of the feed fingers of the feed mechanism.

The feed mechanism includes a vertically reciprocable carriage I1 (Figures 1-3) having a horizontal table 56 carried by a vertical supporting bracket 57. Bracket 51 has opposite similar flanges engaged in a guide 58 carried by the cross piece 22. The lower end of the bracket 51 is provided with similar bosses 59 to receive a pivot pin 6| providing a connection with a driving rod 62 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a driving pin 63 carried by the disc 64. Disc 64 is mounted on a suitable shaft 66 journaled in bearings 61 and carrying a drive sprocket 68 engaged by a drive chain 69 which extends to and is driven by the motor of the stitching mechanism. The carriage I'I, therefore, is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in timed relation to the operation of the conveyor.

The horizontal table 56 provides a supporting and guide means for an endwise reciprocable slide carrying the feed fingers for the shook.

As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the table 56 is provided with raised side portions II on which suitable plates 12 are secured to provide a track to receive the side edges of a slide 13. Slide 13 carries a pair of similar feed fingers I4 pivoted thereon at 16 and urged together by springs H, In the extended position shown in Figure 4, the feed fingers 14 are separated by a camming pin 18 carried by table 56. In their retracted position, the fingers 14 are provided with suitable notches I9 to engage around the pin 18.

The slide 13 (Figure 4) is spring-urged toward the active position of the fingers I4 by similar springs 8| tensioned between suitable studs on the table 56 and to the ends of pin 82 on slide 13. Pin 82 serves to connect the slide to its operating arm 83. Arm 83 is split at its free end. as at 84, and carries a roller 86. The arm 83 is springurged downwardly by a suitable long tension spring 81 as shown in Figure 1.

For retracting the slide 13 and the fingers I4 The bowing arm carried thereby, a bell crank 9| (Figure 1) is pivoted at 92 by suitable depending brackets 93 carried by the cable 56. The lower arm of bell crank 9| has adjustably secured thereon a collar 94 pivotally connected to a controlling link 96 which has its lower end suitably pivoted to a fixture 91.

As the carriage IT reciprocates vertically, therefore, the upper arm 98 of bell crank 9| will rock back and forth between the positions shown in Figures 1 and 7. During its forward movement, that is, to the left from the position shown in Figure 1, upper arm 98 is adapted to move under the roller 86 into operative driving relation with the slide 13. During return of arm 98 to the position shown in Figure 1, the slide 73 and feed fingers I4 are retracted. The spring 81 is of suflicient strength to maintain the arm 83 engaged with the arm 98 of the bell crank until positively removed therefrom at the end of the return stroke by a suitable cam 99 carried by arms |0| extending rearwardly from the table 56.

The carriage also has yieldable means for operating the bowing device I8 This means may take the form of a small arm I06 (Figures 6 and 7) backed by a compression spring I08. The arm I06 is so positioned that during the uppermost portion of the travel it engages the operating lever 48 to operate the bowing device as will now be described. Upon release of the bowing device, if no shook is in the hopper, the arm 48 may engage a suitable stop screw I09.

The operation of the device will be described beginning with the parts positioned as shown in Figure '7, that is, at the end of a feeding cycle. In this position, a piece of shook I6 has just been deposited upon a pair of end bars I4 for travel to the stitching mechanism in assembled position thereon.

As seen in Figure '7, at the beginning of a feeding cycle, the bowing arm 46 is moved upwardly under the influence of its spring 52 to place its bowing teeth 55 in operative relation for engagement with the lowermost piece of shock. In this position, the operating arm 48 has its rearward end slightly depressed for subsequent engagement by the arm I06.

In this position, the feed fingers 14 are extended as shown in Figures 4 and '7 and the end 98 of the bellcrank 9| is snapped under the arm 83 in operative driving engagement with the roller 86 thereon.

As the carriage begins to rise from its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 7, bellcrank 9| operates to withdraw the slide 13 so that the fingers 14 move to the right from the position shown in Figures 4 and 7 and gradually close together under the influence of spring TI. The fingers 14 are substantially completely closed at the end of the feed stroke of the bell crank so that their tapered ends 14a are disposed at either side of the bowing arm 46.

As the table approaches the end of its upward movement, the arm I06 strikes the operating lever 48 of the bowing device so that the arm 46 is forced positively inwardly and downwardly with respect to the lowermost piece of shook. The teeth 55 bite into the edge of the piece and bow it downwardly to separate it from the next lowest piece in the stack and provide an opening for insertion of the feed fingers. The spring I08 is compressed to allow overdriving of the table 56 after operation of the bowing device. Also, as the bellcrank 9| reaches the end of its stroke, the roller 86 engages and is raised by the cam surface 99 out of engagement with arm 98 of the bellcrank 9| so that the slide 13 and the feed fingers 14 are free to be projected under the influence of springs 8| in a rapid fashion into the space between the bowed piece of shook and the remainder of the stack. At the same time that the fingers 14 are projected, they are moved outwardly by the spreading action of the camming pin 18 so that they engage the piece of shook firmly at separated points.

During the subsequent downward movement of the carriage, the piece of shook is snapped past the retaining lips 39 of the hopper and is carried downwardly to rest upon the set of end bars I 4 which have been just brought into place by the fingers 21 of the conveyor. Thi is the position of the parts shown in Figure '7.

I claim:

1. In a box making machine, a hopper for a stack of shook, a bowing device for effecting bowing of the lowest piece of shook in said hopper, and means for engaging and positively feeding said bowed piece of shook onto said conveyor including feed means movable into the space in said stack afforded by the bowing of said lowest piece of shook.

2. In a box making machine, a hopper for a stack of shook, a pair of tracks extending beneath the respective ends of said hopper, a conveyor passing beneath said hopper including elements extending along each of said tracks, a pair of bar hoppers associated with said respective conveyor elements, said bar hoppers being adjacent said shook hopper, whereby bars are withdrawn from each of said bar hoppers and carried along said conveyor in parallel relation beneath said shook hopper, means for initially separating the lowest piece of shook in said shook hopper from the stack, and means for engaging and positively feeding said separated piece of shook onto said parallel pair of bars for feeding movement therewith by said conveyor.

3. In a box making machine, a hopper for a stack of shock, a conveyor passing beneath said hopper, means for bowing the lowest piece of shook downwardly, and feeding means movable into feeding position between said bowed piece of shook and the remainder of said stack and for thereafter carrying said piece of shook onto said conveyor.

4. In a box making machine, a hopper for a stack of shook, a conveyor passing beneath said hopper, means for bowing the lowest piece of shock downwardly, and feeding mechanism for removing said bowed piece of shook including a vertically reciprocable carriage and an endwise reciprocable feeding means mounted on said carriage, means for moving said feeding means to engage said bowed piece of shook, and means for thereafter lowering said carriage to remove said shook from said hopper.

5. A feed mechanism for removing pieces of shook one by one from the bottom of a stack, including a hopper for releasably retaining a stack of shook, means for engaging the edge of the lowermost piece of shook to effect bowing thereof, and means for engaging the upper surface of said bowed piece and withdrawing it from said hopper.

6. A feed mechanism for removing pieces of shook one by one from the bottom of a stack, including a hopper for releasably retaining a stack of shook, means for engaging and bowing the lowermost piece of shook, and means for engaging said bowed piece and withdrawing it from said hopper, said last named means including a pair of spring-urged restrained feed elements and means for releasing said elements.

7. A feed mechanism for removing pieces of shook one by one from the bottom of a stack, including a hopper for releasably retaining a stack of shook, means for engaging and bowing the lowermost pieceof shook downwardly, and means for engaging said bowed piece and withdrawing it from said hopper, said last named means including a pair of spring-urged restrained feed elements and means for releasing said elements, said elements being in side-by side relation when restrained, and means for causing spreading of said elements as they are moved to active position.

8. In a feed mechanism, a hopper for receiving a stack of shook and for retaining said shooks for positive withdrawal, a bowing device for bowing the lowermost piece of shook, a movable carriage for withdrawing said bowed piece of shook, and means operated by said carriage as it moves to active position for operating said bowing device.

v 9. In a feed mechanism, a hopper for receiving a stack of shock and for retaining said shooks for positive withdrawal, a bowing device for bowing the lowermost piece of shock, a movable carriage for withdrawing said bowed piece of shook, and means operated by said carriage as it moves to active position for operating said bowing device, said feeding mechanism including springurged feeding fingers which are withdrawn from active position a the feeding mechanism moves into operative relation with respect to the stack of shooks, and means for causing movement of said feeding elements to active position after operation of said bowing device.

10. In a box making machine, a hopper for a stack of shook, a conveyor passing beneath said hopper, said hopper including means for retaining the stack of shook spaced above said conveyor, and feeding mechanism for removing shook from the hopper including a vertically reciprocable carriage and endwise reciprocable feeding means mounted on said carriage, means for initially separating the lowest piece of shock in the hopper from the stack, means for moving said feeding means to engage said separated piece of shook, and means for thereafter lowering said carriage to remove said shook from said hopper.

11. In a box making machine, a hopper for a stack of of shook, a conveyor passing beneath said hopper, supports in said hopper for said shook, said supports engaging beneath the ends of the lowest piece of shook, and means for engaging the middle portion of the lowest piece of shook to effect bowing thereof and to cause its ends to snap past said supports and thereby separating said piece of shook for feeding to the conveyor.

12. In a box making machine, a hopper for a stack of shook, and means for withdrawing shook from said hopper, said withdrawing means including a vertically movable carriage and mechanical gripping means controlled by said carriage during movement thereof for effecting bowing and withdrawal of the lowermost piece of shook from said hopper.

BERT L. HERRINGTON. 

